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YOU ARE WITHOUT EXCUSE


Leviticus 5:7-13

5:7 “‘If he can’t afford a lamb, then he shall bring his trespass offering for that in which he has sinned, two turtledoves, or two young pigeons, to Yahweh; one for a sin offering, and the other for a burnt offering.
8 He shall bring them to the priest, who shall first offer that which is for the sin offering. He shall wring off its head from its neck but shall not sever it completely.
9 He shall sprinkle some of the blood of the sin offering on the side of the altar; and the rest of the blood shall be drained out at the base of the altar. It is a sin offering.
10 He shall offer the second for a burnt offering, according to the ordinance; and the priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin which he has sinned, and he shall be forgiven.
11 “‘But if he can’t afford two turtledoves or two young pigeons, then he shall bring as his offering for that in which he has sinned, one tenth of an ephah of fine flour for a sin offering. He shall put no oil on it, and he shall not put any frankincense on it, for it is a sin offering.
12 He shall bring it to the priest, and the priest shall take his handful of it as the memorial portion, and burn it on the altar, on the offerings of Yahweh made by fire. It is a sin offering.
13 The priest shall make atonement for him concerning his sin that he has sinned in any of these things, and he shall be forgiven; and the rest shall be the priest’s, as the meal offering.’”
Romans 2:1-3

2:1 Therefore you are without excuse, O man, whoever you are who judge. For in that which you judge another, you condemn yourself. For you who judge practice the same things.
2 We know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things.
3 Do you think this, O man who judges those who practice such things, and do the same, that you will escape the judgment of God?

Traditional Jewish Commentaries (TJCs) connect these verses in Leviticus to the principle that no person has an excuse not to confess and repent, since the Torah provides opportunities for people in every financial condition to bring a sin offering. TJCs also affirm the principle that as one judges others, so one will be judged, as Christ teaches in the New Testament. Paul brings these two concepts together.
Translations
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Hebrew:

LXX:

Greek:
Commentary
Since no Jew is exempt from bringing a sin offering for financial reasons—“if he can’t afford a lamb”—Paul joins this principle with the idea that when a Gentile judges another yet commits the same act, then “you are without excuse” (echo 1). Paul is driving toward the necessity of repentance, because judgment awaits.